Travel photo blog

Mountain Rivers [ See Altai on the map ]

Russian Altai invites you to enjoy the mystery of Teletskoye Lake, to experience the attractiveness of the great Siberian Mountain Belucha, to amaze oneself with the impetuousness of the river Katun and discover many other wonders preserved in this wonderful fairy world.

Teletskoye Lake is one of the best sights in Russian Altai. Its territory is not completely explored by the tourists – it still keeps many secrets from us. In Altai language the lake is called “Altyn-Kel” that means “Golden Lake”. An old legend is hidden behind this name.

Teletskoye Lake is the largest lake in Altai and one of the deepest lakes in the world. Fed by the mountain glaciers Teletskoye remains cold even in summer, so very few people decide to bathe in it. Being really cold the water of the lake is so clear that in winter looking through the thick layer of ice one can easily see its bottom.

Belucha is the highest peak of Russian Altai. This majestic mountain has two summits divided by the saddle and covered with numerous glaciers: Mensu glacier, Akkem glacier and Katun glacier among them. Belucha attracts many courageous tourists willing to tame it and yet continues to have the reputation of being rigorous and inaccessible.

The Katun is the longest river in Altai. People in Altai call this river “Kadyn” that means “tsarina”, “mistress”. The name originates from the ancient tradition to worship and extol great rivers and mountain peaks. Nowadays the Katun is definitely one of the most important tourist attractions. Walking along the banks of the Katun River and rafting through its rapids give the tourists ineffable impressions and make them return to this place again and again.